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Zack Keithy, our author, is a certified veterinarian technician (UC Blue Ash) for over 6 years (contact him here). The articles written here are based on his expertise and experience, combined with a review by our expert vet reviewers including Dr M. Tarantino. Learn more about us here.
San Diego County Animal Services officers waded deep into a dense cactus patch in Bonita, California, to rescue a dog trapped head-to-toe in painful thorns, according to the county. On September 17, 2026, Officer Morris and an accompanying trainee pushed through the sharp cactus needles alongside the animal to safely extricate him from the thick brush.
Following the field rescue, the dog was immediately transported to the South County Animal Shelter in Bonita for emergency medical assessment. Shelter veterinary staff carefully removed numerous cactus spines from the dog’s body and mouth once he arrived. Medical staff said the dog had likely gone several days without food or water before he was discovered.
Despite the severe pain and trauma of the ordeal, shelter staff noted that the dog remained gentle and well-behaved throughout his treatment. He is now resting comfortably at the shelter and continues to receive veterinary care, nutrition, and monitoring.
My thoughts: Wading directly into a cactus patch isn’t the kind of rescue that gets planned out ahead of time, it’s the kind where officers just make the call to go in because the alternative is leaving the dog there longer. The detail about the dog going several days without food or water puts the urgency in perspective; this wasn’t a quick, easy extraction, it was likely the end of a rough stretch for him. The fact that he stayed calm and gentle through the whole process, spine removal included, says a lot about how much trust he was putting in the people helping him.
Source: NBC 7 San Diego
